Shahed 171 Simorgh

The Shahed 171 Simorgh (English: "Phoenix"; sometimes S-171) is an Iranian jet-powered flying wing reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) produced by Shahed Aviation Industries.[2]

Shahed 171 Simorgh
S-171
Role reconnaissance UAV
National origin Iran
Manufacturer Shahed Aviation Industries
First flight 2014[1]
Status Unknown
Primary user IRGC AF
Produced 2010s–present

It is a full-size copy of the American RQ-170 UAV captured by Iran.[2] It is one of two Iranian flying wing UAVs based on the RQ-170, along with the Saegheh, a smaller version, with which it is often confused.

Design

The Simorgh is an exact copy of the RQ-170, down to the landing gear and tires.[3] It seems to be built mostly out of fiberglass.[3] One researcher says the weight, engine, and endurance are inferior to the RQ-170.[4]

Iran claims it can be armed with munitions,[5] a claim which has been disputed by Western analysts.[3]

Status

In 2014 the Simorgh was called a "cheap fake", and the photos released by Iran were called "crude mockups".[3] Independent analysts have expressed severe doubt over the Saegheh, pointing out, for example, that the flight control system for a flying wing design is very demanding.[6]

Two were under construction as of 2014.[7] In 2014 Iran said that they would have four in service by March 2015.[8]

The UAV was first seen in May 2015 and was shown flying on Iranian TV in October 2016.[9] Jane's analysis placed the UAV at Kashan Air Base.[9][10]

There was no confirmed operational use of the Simorgh as of May 2018, and it was thought to have been abandoned.[11]

Some sources report that a Shahed 171 may have been shot down in the February 2018 Israel–Syria incident, but the UAV was probably the very similar Saegheh.[2]

Operators
 Iran

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. Opall-Rome, Barbara (13 February 2018). "Israel Air Force says seized Iranian drone is a knockoff of US Sentinel".
  2. "Sentinels, Saeqehs and Simorghs: An Open Source Survey of Iran's New Drone in Syria". bellingcat. 13 February 2018.
  3. "Iranian Copy of U.S. Unmanned Stealth Aircraft is a Fake - USNI News". 12 May 2014.
  4. Ahmad, Naveed (2 June 2019). "The Advent of Drones: Iran's Weapon of Choice" (PDF). International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah).
  5. "Farsnews". en.farsnews.com.
  6. Rawnsley, Adam (30 November 2014). "Iran's Stealth Drone Claims Are Total BS".
  7. Wright, Galen (14 May 2014). "The Arkenstone - ارکنستون: Translation - Interview with Gen. Hajizadeh and Technical Descriptions of Features from the IRGC-ASF's Recent Exhibition".
  8. "Farsnews". en.farsnews.com.
  9. "Iranian 'stealth' UAV test site identified - IHS Jane's 360". 8 October 2016.
  10. "Iran's Simorgh Test Site Identified". Offiziere.ch. 8 October 2016.
  11. Frew, Joanna (May 2018). "Drone Wars: The Next Generation: An overview of current operators of armed drones" (PDF). Oxford: Drone Wars UK. p. 12.


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